Method of heat-treating liquids



May 19,1936. E. @.DYARMETT 2,040,837

METHOD OF' HEAT TREATING LIQUIDS INVENTOR ATTORNFV May 19, 1936. E. c. DYARMETT 2,040,837v

METHOD OF HEAT TREATING LIQUIDS Filed.v Feb. 18, 1932 2 Sheets-Shed'l 2 "ifi INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

IMy invention relates to a method of separating lighter from heavier components of liquids by disitillation, and has for its principal object to eifect :recovery of the lighter lcomponents of liquid by 'heat-treating the liquid rapidly without overheat- In' accordance with ordinary practice liquids to be distilled are heated in tanks or tubes to which the heat is applied exteriorly, resulting in uneven distribution of the heat through the liquid and overheating of the part thereof exposed to the surface of the confining walls. While such unevenness of heat distribution is not a serious detriment in thev treatment of some liquids, it is in others,

l5 such as hydrocarbon oils, from which close fractional cuts are desirable, and particularly in cracking operations in which overheating effects secondary cracking and the resultant deposition of free carbon on the Wall of the tank or tube.

Particular objects of my invention are, therefore, to effect distribution of heat through the liquid under treatment by` radiation and maximum surface contacts of the liquid, and to simultaneously effect cycling of the liquid and its '5 evolved vapors and condensates in response to ythermal forces set up as a result of differential in temperatures at various points throughout the length of the still. Y

For practicing my method lI have provided improved apparatus, a preferred vform of whi'ch is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of an upright still embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2 2, Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of a part of the heat-distributing and liquid-nebulizing brush. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section of a part of a still of modified form, including a fractionating tower element.

Referring more in detail tothe drawings:- I designates a heating chamber preferably of lcircular cross section to permit vbaiiied flow of 4 heating medium therethrough from an intake 2 at one end of the chamberl to an outlet 3 at the opposite end thereof.

4 designates a furnace of any suitable type for supplying the'heating mediumand with which '50 the inlet and outlet flues 2-3 are connected, the

outlet flue 3 delivering to a stack 5. The heating chambervis preferably provided with flow directing bales 6, and the inlet channel 2 With a damper lfor controlling and directing the heating medi- "55 um for regulating temperatureswithin the heating chamber. The furnace is also preferably provided with an auxiliary flue 8 leading to the stack and dampered at 9 for further heat regulation.

I0 designates a tube extending centrally through the heating chamber I and having an upper annular flange II engaging a clamp I2 carried by auxiliary supports adjacent the furnace but not here illustrated.

I3 designates an aligning clamp at the bottom of the heating chamber surrounding the tube Ill, but not fixed thereto so as to interfere with expansion and contraction' of the tube.

Fixed to the top of the tube II) is a cover member I4 preferably lcomprising a chamber I5 for collection of vapors as presently described, and -l5 lhaving at its lower end a tapered neck I6 extending into the top of the tube chamber I0 and provided with a flange I'I forming an armulus I8 from which liquid supplied from a line I9 is distributed about the top of the tube.

Opening from the side of the upper portion of the chamber I5 is a vapor outlet line 20 leading to a condenser indicated at,2I, and depending from the top wall 22 of the chamber is a ring flange 23 carryingan annular nozzle 24 through which reflux liquid supplied through a line 25 may be showered through vapors rising in the chamber.

The top wall 22 and the flange 23 of the chamber I5 are channeled for passage of a shaft therethrough and the shaft passage counterbored to receive packing 26. Mounted on the top of the Vcover I4 is a gear box 2l having a channel 28 4concentric with the channel in the top of the cover I4 and provided With a gland ring 29 for compressing the packing 26.

Within the gear box, concentric with the channel 28, is an upstanding ring 3U for confining a -bearing 3I for a shaft 32 suspended on the bearing by a collar 33 and extending downwardly through the vapor space in the cover member I4- into the top of the heating chamber I0.

Fixed to the shaft 32 above the collar 33 is a bevel gear wheel 34 meshing with a pinion 35 on a shaftl 36 extending to the vexterior of the gearbox and provided with a driving dement, such as iii-45 pulley 3l.

'I'he shaft 32 extends above the bevel gear Wheel 34 through a collar 38 of a cover plate 39 on the gear box and is provided With a bearing member 40 cooperative with a bearing member- 5.0 4I in. the collar. Rising from the plate 39 is a ring flange 42 forming a chamber 43 about the shaft, and covering the end of the shaft is an inverted cup 44 having lateral apertures 45 Within -the annular chamber formed by the ring 42. 5.5

the cup 44 is a deflector plate 41 for def'lectingV liquid discharged'from the channel of the shaft 32 laterally to the wall of the cup 44. 48 designates an outlet line for the cooling liquid.

The lower end of the shaft 32 is preferably ta- VYpered and suspended from the shaft, preferably by means of a collar` 49, threaded onto the` lower end of the' shaft 32, is a hollow shaft 50 Yof a length to extend substantially through the heat- LIV1:5

ing tube Ill but spaced from the end thereof Vfer a purpose presently mentioned.V

The collar 49 is flanged to provide a stop ring 5I having spokes 52 carrying a balance ring 53,

Y and the opposite end of the shaft. .50V is provided with a ring 54 similar to the ring 5l but slidable on the shaft. Mounted on the shaft between the rings 5I and 54 is Ya ,brush 55 preferably consistfromacenter ring 58 of twisted wire and crimped Y at their outer portions toxprovide extensive sur- .fface area.; yThe units 56 are compressed on the shaft by threading the plug 59 onto the free end ofthe 'shaft to hold the bristles ofthe several lunits in closerelation and form a compact brush body ,in which the bristles are in close assembly Vbut afford'space for therpassage/ofrvapors and mist generated from the liquid under treatment therethrough... f

f lhe,brushY 55 ris* of a diameter to fit snugly within the heating tube Vbut for rotation with the endsfuof .thenbristles Vin contact With the wall of the' tube, whereby h eat applied exteriorly to the tube will be `conducted substantially uniformly in Vcrossrsectional areas throughout the ltube chambell.v L-..

i, e ring N54 is adjustable onv the lowerV endrof ftheshaft yrm Vby means@ plus 5.9. .hai/insa .channel 6D1therethroughfor passage of steam or.

other heating medium in tohthe wshaft, if desired. The .lower end f the tube!!! isslosedlbv a liaise platel having ataper'ed infie? Surfaelead- 11.1.5 ,t9 .a .cup Simi/ineen Outlet line 63 for .With- -Aqralllng TQdP-.ecflom .the chamba? formed in the bottom ont@ tute .I 0 below the brush. .6.4 .gesig- ...nates a.11QZ,1e..9iening.thmugh the ,bottom 0f thedcup concentrically with theshaftnBUefor de- -llively erstem 01 other auxiliairheating fluid Ito the interior of the tube l0, the nozzle 64 terminating'abo've the normal liquid residue levelin Vthe'bottom of the tube. i g i 4In the Vform of amparatusy illustratednin Fig. 4,

' Qafraetionating tower section 65 is interposed between the toprof the heating tube and a vapor chamber l substantially identical Vwith the chamber l5 shown inFig. l, except for 'omission of Vthe oil distributing annulus at its lower end.

Mounted onV the vapor `chamber l5' is a gear box` v21, "andY suspended from gearing in thebox through Athefractionating chamber is a driving shaft 66 having a` collar 61thereon withinthe upper Vportion. of the fractionating chamber.

Threadedontothe shaftwithin the lower portion of the fractionating chamber is a collar 68 cooperative Vwith the collar 61 for retaining the Mounted on theshaft 66, by meansof a spider 69 on the shaft and a clamp ring 1Dv seated in Van annular/groove 1l in the Qshaft, is a frusto conical collar 12 having a ange Y 13 atits lowerend ofY a diameterto provide an autres? substantially uniformly around the tube.

19 on the'periphery o f the collar 12 serves to 10 annular space within the upper end Vof the heating tube for delivery of charging stock from a supply pipe I9 to the tube adjacent the Wall thereof. Y

Mounted above the flange 13 and spaced from 5 the side wall of the collar, by bolts 16 and spacers 11, is av distributing ring 18 whereby oil delivered against the side Wall of the cup is distributed A ring Y preventsplashing of theoil upwardly into the fractionating chamber.

The shaft 66 has a threaded and preferably 'tapered lower end from which the brush shaft is suspended by means of a cap 49 as described in l5Y connection withthe preferred form of the invention.

For taking an additional cut from the frac-V tionating chamber, I provide a trap 80 in the bottom'of the chamber around the cup 69 through 20 depending from the top ofthe collectioncharnber. 3 0 Y In practicing my method Vwith the apparatus describe@V liquid to be distilled-supplied tothe top of the heating tube adjacent the wall thereof, Vcontacts, the revolving brush and is, bythe brush,

broken up into a mist'by mechanical stirring ac- :,535

tion of the brush. The brush, revolving incontact with therwall of the heating tube, conducts heat from said wall inwardly to the center shaft so that the temperature within the tube is substantialrly uniform throughout cross` sectional P areas thereof andV thedliquid and mist thereof heated substantially uniformly throughout such crosssectional areas. u Y i l 'Y .Y

Although the liquid may be preheated vbefore delivery to the still tube, it enters thestill at aan? Vcomparatively low` temperature, and, 'passing down the tube, is progressively heated so that lower boiling point vapors are progressively generated during passage of the liquid downwardly through the tube. Y points mingle during-theiiupward travel through the tube, the vapors of higher boiling point generated at lower elevations in the-tube contacting the bristles of lower temperature 'inf'their upward travel, to be ondensed and returned tothe liquid stream for retravel down -the wall of theA heatingA tube andrevaporization, thereby setting up progressive fractionation within' the heated vessel through therrnalcycling. Rotation ofthe brush sets up centrifugalv force tending tothrow D60 the heavier vapors, mist'and liquid to the wall of the tubejfor initial heating and'to assist in circulation of the mist.

InY the simple form lof Vthe invention, e vaporsV Ygenerated in the heating tube mayvbelywithdrawne fromthe top of the tube forcondensation, orfif desired, may be passed through alfraqctionating tower such 21S-illustrated@ o; the-drawings, wherein vapors rising inthe toweriirst contact a cooler area andare knockedbachjforwithdrawal of the condensate, the lighter vapors to the vapor loutlet. Y

While in t e foregoing only rising descriptionl have re- -fred to; the brush as. QmPQSedQOfliri'SileSl it' is .apparent that any otherA mechanical device'for "-75 tower 2 5 The vapors of differentV boiling @5.0

effecting the distribution of the heat and nebulization of the oil would come within the scope of the invention, and, while I have described the invention for simple distillation, it is apparent that the same method can be employed under higher heat or with pressure for cracking hydrocarbon oils; adaptation of the method and apparatus for cracking being, however, particularly disclosed in a co-pending application.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of distillation including impelling liquid stock to the periphery of the chamber of a treating vessel, converting the liquid to mist at the periphery of the chamber, conducting heat through closely related transverse zones in the chamber, vaporizing the mist by the conducted heat, and removing vapors from the treating chamber.

2. The method of distillation including delivering charging stock to the chamber of a treating vessel, heating the Vessel to progressively higher temperatures in the direction of ow of the stock, impelling stock in liquid form, together with condensate of lower boiling point fractions of the stock to the periphery of the chamber, converting the liquid to mist at the periphery of the chamber, conducting heat through closely related transverse zones in the chamber, vaporizing the mist by the conducted heat, and removing vapors from the chamber.

3. The method of distillation including delivering charging stock to the chamber of a treating vessel, creating transverse zones of gradually increasing temperature within the chamber by conduction of heat through said zones, impelling charging stock in liquid form and condensate of lower boiling point components of the stock to the periphery of the chamber, converting the liquid to mist, converting the mist to vapor by heat transfer within the separate zones, and removing vapors from zones of progressively higher temperature through zones of progressively lower temperature.

4. 'Ihe method of distillation including delivery of charging stock to the chamber of a vessel circular in cross section, heating the wall of the vessel progressively in the direction of travel of charging stock through the vessel, conducting heat along definite radial lines from the wall of the vessel to the center of the chamber, impelling charging stock and condensate of lower boiling point components of the stock to the periphery of the chamber by centrifugal force, converting the liquid to mist, converting the mist to vapor by heat transfer in zones dened by the radial lines of heat conduction, and removing vapors formed in the respective zones through zones of lower temperature.

EDWARD C. DYARME'IT. 

